After Derek Carr forced the Las Vegas Raiders to release him, free agency has become much more interesting for teams looking to land their next franchise quarterback. The Carolina Panthers are the new front-runner, and other favorites to potentially acquire Carr include the Saints and the Jets. But who has the best chance?
Let’s take a look at the Derek Carr next team odds to find out.
Derek Carr Next Team Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | +140 |
| New Orleans Saints | +150 |
| New York Jets | +300 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +900 |
| New England Patriots | +1400 |
| Washington Commanders | +1600 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1800 |
| Tennessee Titans | +2000 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +2000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +2200 |
| Houston Texans | +5000 |
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Feb. 14
Will Carolina Finally Land A Franchise QB?
Sitting at the top of the Derek Carr next team odds is the Carolina Panthers at +140. If you were to ask who the previous quarterback was, you might hear a few answers. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker all fit the description, but what they all have in common is they were short-lasting. Not to mention the fact that both Darnold and Walker are about to enter free agency themselves.
Raiders officially informed QB Derek Carr that he has been released, per source. Team released him before $40.4 million in his contract became guaranteed today.
Carr is now a free agent and is expected to draw interest from the Saints and Panthers, amongst others. pic.twitter.com/X2v6pDecqP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 14, 2023
Carolina is in the hunt for a reliable playmaker to put them in contention for an NFC South division that remains unclaimed, with Brady now out in Tampa. Carr fits all the criteria as he is a four-time pro bowler and threw for 3500+ yards this past season. Plus, adding Carr to the roster might just be the push the Panthers need to really ignite a big season from a top receiver like D.J. Moore.
Can The Saints Fill Their QB Hole?
It is unlikely the Saints will be resigning Jameis Winston or Andy Dalton. That leaves the door open for yet another NFC South contender to land a potential franchise QB for years to come. Signing Carr could potentially even make either the Saints or Panthers the immediate favorite to win the NFC South.
What Carr could do for the Saints’ offense is actually exponentially larger than what he could do in Carolina. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave boast better targets than anything in the Panthers’ offensive arsenal, so Carr could immediately step into this playmaker role.
It is also worth noting the Saints were unsuccessful in the Deshaun Watson trade sweepstakes last year, and they will definitely look to close the deal this time around with Carr.
The Jets Are The “Unlikely” Favorites
Even though the Jets sit in third with +300 odds to acquire Carr, it is actually easier to make a case for why he will not want to play on the east coast.
Similar to Aaron Rodgers (and also a reason why it is unlikely Rodgers will land here), Carr has voiced that he wants more free reign in play calling. Jets Head Coach, Robert Saleh, has specifically stated the “can” audible is the only decision the QB will have. This is when there are two plays given to the QB, and they can call an audible based on the coverage they see. Talk about some back-seat coaching…
The Jets reportedly view Derek Carr as a “huge upgrade” over Zach Wilson pic.twitter.com/zcTxvhwL4S
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) February 14, 2023
Since this was one of the main reasons Carr left Vegas, it is very unlikely he will take the gig in New York as someone else’s sounding board.
